Recirculation system for swimming pools

ABSTRACT

RECIRCULATING APPARATUS FOR USE IN A SWIMMING POOL WHICH INCORPORATES A WATER SUPPLY LINE INTEGRALLY WITHIN THE POOL WALL IN THE FORM OF A CONDUIT CAVITY OR HEADER HAVING SPACED WATER OUTLETS OPENING INTO THE POOL SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE WAER, PREFERABLY COMPLETELY ENCIRCLING THE POOL TO PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE QUANTITY OF TRATED FRESH WATER, AND COOPERATIVE WITH AN OVERFLOW RETURN GUTTER THERBY PROVIDING A PIPELESS WATER HANDLING SYSTEM FOR A SWIMMING POOL AVOIDING ADJACENT PIPE TUNNELS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT WHICK IS DIFFICULT TO INSTALL, EXPENSIVE, AND DIFFICULT TO SERVICE.

Feb. 9, 1971 n.fw. HOLLAND RIEI'cIRcuLATIoN SYSTEM FOR SWIMMING POOLS INVENTOR.

A TTOR NE Y Richard W Holland v United States Patent O 3,561,017 RECIRCULATION SYSTEM FOR SWIMMING POOLS Richard W. Holland, 13103 Conifer, Houston, Tex. 77024 Filed Nov. 21, 1968, Ser. No. 777,835 Int. Cl. E04h 3/16 U.S. Cl. 4-172.17 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Recirculating apparatus for use in a swimming pool which incorporates a water supply line integrally within the pool wall in the form of a conduit cavity or header having spaced water outlets opening into the pool substantially below the surface of the water, preferably completely encircling the pool to provide an adequate quantity of treated fresh water, and cooperative with an overflow return gutter thereby providing a pipeless water handling system for a swimming pool avoiding adjacent pipe tunnels and other equipment which is difficult to install, expensive, and difficult to service.

SUMMARY OF PROBLEM AND SOLUTION The construction of the water handling system of medium-sized to large swimming pools is typically quite expensive. One of the factors increasing the expense is the location of the various pipes, both drain pipes and fresh water feed pipes, in pipe tunnels or culverts immediately adjacent the pool. Thus, the pipes are located some few feet externally of the pool, a factor which complicates construction of the pool wall proper in several regards. For instance, pipe troughs must extend from the pipe tunnel through the wall. Additionally, construction of the wall per se is complicated because the excavation is typically stepped immedaitely next to the wall.

The present invention is summarized as incorporating a pipeless water handling system constructed in the pool wall which utilizes a sloped open drain orvgutter for drawing off the top layer of water in the pool to a drain pipe returning the water to the filter system and further cooperative with a header pipe some few feet below the surface of the water which is integrally formed in the wall of the pool for distributing fresh water into the pool at various points about the perimeter. More particularly, the header pipe is so located as to permit the grouping of a greater number of treated water inlets at the shallow end of the pool where greater quantities of treated water are required for a heavy bather load. The apparatus has a further benefit in that the chlorinated water is injected some few feet below the surface, not near the surface, and the extent of loss of chlorine to the atmosphere is decreased, thereby decreasing the cost of purification. The present apparatus is further summarized as including equipment which is readily serviced as might occur when an opening from the header into the pool requires replacement or the like.

Many objects and advantages of the present invention will `become more readily apparent from a consideration of the included specification and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a swimming pool, somewhat schematic in detail, showing the header system of the present invention installed in the wall of the pool;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. l showing details of the fresh water header and the drain wherein the apparatus is integrally formed in the pool wall;

FIG. 3 shows a portion of the fresh water header of the present invention including the apparatus for holding same in the pool wall, and a typical header joint;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4, and showing an exploded View of the inlet face fitting, bolt, and other hardware;

FIG. 6 shows an adjustable inlet face fitting; and,

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing temporary connection of the header of the present invention to a concrete form when building the pool wall.

In the drawings, attention is first directed to FIG. 1 which illustrates schematically a swimming pool indicated by the numeral 10. The pool is commonly of rectangular or square construction having a deeper end at which a pair of bottom-located drains 11 and 12 are located. While the present invention is illustrated with a rectangular pool, the pool may be any shape desired and may extend over whatever area and depths are required. The pool is defined by a generally upstanding wall 13 which fully surrounds a bottom 14. The bottom may vary in depth and consequently, the wall 13 will vary substantially in height. However, the top edge of the wall 13 usually lies in a single horizontal plane to` position the gutter, as will ybe described, level with the surface of the water. The apparatus of the present invention is cooperative with water circulating and lter apparatus 15 which is connected by way of one or more outlet pipes 16 and 17 with the swimming pool 10. Water is drained from the pool through the gutters, to be described, and through the bottom drains 11 and 12 which communicate with the pipe 16. The water is ltered, puried, and chemically treated in the recirculation apparatus 15, and is pumped under pressure through a conduit 18 back to the pool. The recirculation apparatus 15 is represented schematically in view of the fact that filters, pumps, chlorine treatment apparatus, and the like, are believed well known in the art.

Attention is next directed to FIG. 2 which is a sectional view of the pool wall 13. The bottom 14 is shown in FIG. 2 and is preferably continuously formed with the side wall 13. Ignoring details of construction, the bottom drain 11 is shown in FIG. 2 in communication with the conduit 16 which provides one means of draining water from the pool. The pool wall 13 may be of any height as noted before, however, the sectional view of FIG. 2 is taken at a relatively intermediate height, such as perhaps six feet of water. Additionally, the pool bottom 14 may be of any required dimension without limitation.

The pool wall 13 extends upwardly to a raised lip 13a which preferably extends fully around the perimeter of the pool to provide a curb for delineating to the swimmer the edge of the pool. The pool is preferably surrounded by a walk way indicated by the numeral 13b which preferably is formed integrally with the side wall 13. As will be appreciated, water is often splashed from the swimming pool, and to prevent soaking the ground immediately adjacent to the pool, the side wall 13b is typically extended out several feet to avoid excessive wetting of the ground. Details of actual construction of the side wall 13, the bottom 14, the surrounding lborders and -walkways are subject to variation as between indoor and outdoor pools, and are believed within purview of one skilled in the art.

In FIG. 2, the water level is indicated at 20 and approximately coincides with the upper edge or lip of an overflow gutter 21. The gutter 21 is recessed in the walls 13 and is preferably of suitable width to receive and collect the contaminated overflow from the surface of the body of -water 20. Typically, the gutter 21 is Iabout six inches wide and is perhaps five or six inches below the surface of the water at its highest point. The sectional view of FIG. 2 is taken at the highest point of the gutter 21. That is to say, the gutter 21 slopes along the length of the pool. Considering the plan view of FIG. 1, the highest point of the gutter is preferably at the upper right-hand corner as indicated at 21a and the lowest point is preferably at 2lb. The slope is preferably generally linear from perhaps tive inches below the surface of the water at 21a to perhaps eighteen or twenty inches below the surface of the water at 2lb. This envisions the use of the single pipe 17 connected to the single low point as shown in the embodiment described. However, multiple low points may be used also. For instance, the pipe 17 may be 4branched and connected to the perimeter of the pool at two or three locations. In this case, the gutter 21 is sloped to each opening into the drain pipe 17 utilizing the degree of slope suggested above.

Attention is next directed to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, jointly. The header pipe comprising the present invention is shown in greater detail. The header is indicated by the numeral 25 and is formed of a number of sections 26 and 27 which are joined at 28. The adjacent sections 26 and 27 are of indefinite length to circumscribe the pool 10. Thusly, in FIG. 3, sections 26 and 27 are butted one against the other and a strap 30 is extended fully about the butt joint to seal the pipe from leaking. The strap 30 is tightened by a nut and bolt indicated at 31 las shown in FIG. 5, which pulls a pair of projecting ears 32 toward one another. As the ears are pulled toward one another, the strap 30 forms a leak-resistant connection at the joint between the pipes 26 and 27. The pipe sections 26 and 27 are further joined one to the other to protect against axial loading. On the upper and lower surfaces, projecting ears 33 and 34 are lined one with the other. Adjacent ears are joined by nuts and bolts as indicated at 35. The bolts are placed in position to pull the ears toward one another to thereby take up axial loads or thrust on the header pipe 25. It will be noted that the strap 30 is placed about the joint first since it has to pass beneath the bolts 35. The strap may be used to position and secure a gasket about the butt joint.

After many years, it may not be uncommon for the header or cavity to leak. However, the leak will be to the pool itself and consequently will not cause any damage to the wall or in any way interfere with the operation of the pool.

A reinforcing rod 37 is joined to the header pipe 25 at spaced locations. While this depends on the variations in construction, the reinforcing rod 37 is preferably formed to extend inwardly of the wall 13 as constructed in situ to anchor the header pipe 25 in position. The reinforcing rod 37 is joined to the pipe at spaced locations by suitable means and preferably has the form best shown in FIG. 5. Of course, the shape may be varied as needed, and, of course, the reinforcing rod 37 may be used to provide connections to or with reinforcing mesh or other rods placed in the concrete of the wall 13 when it is being fabricated. The rods are located at spaced locations along the header pipe 25 as shown in the drawings to thereby anchor the entirety of the header in place in the wall13.

It should be noted in FIG. 5 that the header 25 is generally rectangular in shape. Further, the ears described above project from three of the sides, as well as the rod 37. However, one face is essentially planar and coterminous with the surface of the wall 13. This is more specifically shown in FIG. 2, wherein the wall faces to the right and the body of water 20. Spaced outlets are located along the header 25 and comprise a preferably circular opening 39 having a support bar 40 spanning the opening 39. As shown in greater detail in FIG. 5, the bar 40 supports an internally threaded hub 41 which is adapted to receive a suitable inlet fitting 42 which is shown in sectional view in FIG. 5'. The inlet fitting 42 is adapted to be bolted over the opening 39 by bolt 44 which is threaded into the hub 41. These parts are exploded in FIG. 5, but it will be appreciated that on assembly, the inlet fitting 42 is exposed at the surface of the wall for suitably adjusting the amount of the water llow and directing water into the pool proper from the header of the present invention. In some pools, a title finish is placed over the concrete wallg the water inlet may be conviently bordered by the tile.

Attention is next directed to FIG. 7 of the drawings which illustrates, in sectional view, the header 25 of the present invention temporarily joined to concrete forms for construction integrally of the pool wall 13. In FIG. 7, the reinforcing bars 37 are shown supported in space from the conduit 26. The conduit 26 temporarily is joined to a concrete form 45 which is customarily constructed of a number of wood pieces. The bolt hub 41 is used to FIG. 7 to receive a bolt 46 to clamp a disposable bar 47 in the position shown. Thus, in fabricating the pool wall 13, the self-supporting, free standing concrete form 45 is erected in the conventional manner and a suitable hole is drilled adjacent the port 39 in the conduit 26. The hub 41 is centered in the holed drilled through the concrete forms 45 and the bolt 46 is placed therein. The bar 47 is engaged with the bolt 46 yand the bolt is tightened to pull the conduit 26 into position. The final position of the header 25 is achieved relative to the concrete forms and the concrete is poured around the header 25. It will be understood that the concrete fully surrounds the header, dries, and is cured, at which time the concrete forms 2S are removed. The removal is easily accomplished by simply unthreading the bolt 46. At that juncture, the bar 47 is removed and the concrete forms are disassembled in a conventional manner. This then leaves the header 46 within the concrete wall 13 with the port 39 exposed to introduce water into the pool when the system is completed. After the concrete has cured, the inlet fitting 42 is placed over the port 39 with the bolt 44.

While the drawings have omitted the construction at the corners of the pool, the conduit is formed into an elbow for each of the corners. Additionally, the feed pipe 18 is joined to the header 25 at some convenient location through a conventional adapter fitting. Typically, a circular port is cut in the back wall of the rectangular header and the pipe 18 is connected at the port.

In FIG. 2, the completed apparatus is shown in place whereupon the header 25 introduces water into the pool 20 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2. The apparatus is particularly beneficial in that the chlorinated water is introduced below the surface of the pool 20. As observed before, when the treated water is introduced at the surface, a measurable portion of the chlorine in the water escapes to the atmosphere, a loss which is relatively expensive. Further, when the water is introduced at the surface, the surface agitation carries some of the water into the gutter immediately before the fresh water has had a chance to disperse into the body of water. Through the use of the arrangement shown, the water is commingled throughout the body of water to obtain better dispersion of the treatment chemical.

While the foregoing shows multi-piece construction, the header or flow cavity may be formed in situ with the wall itself. Thus, the passages are cast in the wall. Also, the passages may be immediately next to the side face of the wall or may be internally even at the very center of the wall structure. Regardless of the construction, the header system, broadly defined herein, is easily installed to the extent that it is idiot-proof as that term is understood in the construction industry. Moreover, upkeep and maintenance is substantially reduced.

While numerous changes and variations may be derived from the present invention, the preferred embodiment is described above, the scope hereof is defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A water supply header adapted to be encased in a concrete wall arranged for enclosing a swimming pool and comprising: a plurality of elongated tubular members coupled to one another and disposed lengthwise between the inner and outer surfaces of such a concrete wall so as to be encased therein upon casting of such a concrete wall, each of said tubular members having a side wall with a flat exterior face adapted to be substantially ush with the adjacent inner surfaces of such a concrete wall extending above and below said tubular members; a plurality of outlet openings dened entirely within said side walls of said tubular members and spaced at selected intervals along the length thereof; at least one supply connection on at least one of said tubular members and adapted for supplying water to said tubular members; and means on at least one of said tubular members adapted for securing said tubular members within a concrete wall encasing said tubular members to retain said tubular members in position therein with their said flat exterior faces lying substantially flush with the inner surfaces of that concrete Wall.

2. The water supply header of claim 1 wherein said tubular members have a substantially rectangular transverse cross-section.

3. The water supply header of claim 1 further includingz coupling means secured in said tubular members adjacent to and facing each of said outlet openings; a perforated cover placed over each of said outlet openings; and means adapted for releasably connecting each of said perforated covers to said coupling means adjacent to said outlet opening associated therewith.

4. The water supply header of claim 1 wherein said securing means include a bar secured to each of said tubular members and directed away from said side walls thereof so as to position each of said bars between the inner and outer surfaces of a concrete Wall encasing said tubular members.

5. A swimming pool adapted for enclosing a body of water and comprising: a Water-tight bottom surface; an upright concrete wall arranged around said bottom surface and adapted for confining water at a selected level above said bottom surface; and a tubular water-supply header encased within said concrete wall below said selected level and extending along at least a portion of said concrete wall, said supply header including a plurality of tandemly-coupled tubular members respectively having an exposed Hat side wall lying flush with the adjacent Water-conning surfaces of said concrete wall, a plurality of water outlet openings formed entirely within said exposed side walls and spaced at intervals along the length of said tubular members for distributing water into said pool, and means on said Water-supply header cooperatively arranged for anchoring said header in said concrete wall to retain said exposed side walls substantially ush with said water-confining surfaces.

6. The swimming pool of claim 5 wherein said tubular members have a substantially rectangular transverse cross-section.

7. The swimming pool of claim 5 further including: coupling means secured in said tubular members adjacent to and facing each of said outlet openings; a perforated cover placed over each of said outlet openings; and means adapted for releasably connecting each of said perforated covers to said coupling means adjacent to said outlet opening associated therewith.

8. The swimming pool of claim 5 wherein said anchoring means include a bar secured to each of said tubular members and anchoringly embedded in said concrete wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,073,784 3/1937 Day 4l72.l7X 2,088,410 7/1937 Everson 4-l72.17X 2,315,184 3/1943 Boosey 4-l72.17X 2,932,397 4/1960 Ogden 4-l72.17X 3,144,261 8/1964 Stephens 285-363X 3,319,264 5/1967 'Scarano 4--172.17 3,322,444 5/1967 Sewell et al. 285363X 3,386,107 6/1968 Whitten, Ir. 4-172.l7 3,391,790 7/1968 Lerner 4-l72.l7X 3,432,867 3/1969 Whitten, Jr. 4-l72.17

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner 

